news

MLB News

Dodgers promote longtime front-office personnel

By
Ken Gurnick

LOS ANGELES -- The Dodgers, having beefed up the baseball operations department with recent hires, have also promoted several department heads, general manager Ned Colletti confirmed.

Logan White, formerly assistant general manager for amateur and international scouting, is now vice president of scouting; De Jon Watson, formerly assistant general manager for player development, is now vice president of player development; Vance Lovelace, formerly director of player personnel, is now vice president of player personnel; Rick Ragazzo, formerly director of professional scouting, is now vice president of professional scouting.

These moves follow the hiring of Bob Engle as vice president of international scouting, Gerry Hunsicker as senior advisor to the general manager and Pat Corrales as a third special assistant to the general manager, joining Toney Howell and Ken Bracey.

Also, Stan Conte, who moved from head trainer to director of medical services a year ago, is now vice president of medical services.

"This rewards their work, their years of service with the Dodgers and in Major League Baseball," said Colletti. "It also allows them to refocus on their primary responsibilities. Some have had to handle multiple roles. We're now in a position to have them refocus on their primary area, be it scouting, player development, amateur scouting, international scouting or professional scouting."

White, who has conducted the amateur Draft since 2002, became assistant GM in '07, adding international duties at a time when the club de-emphasized the money spent on international players. His Draft picks have included Cy Young Award winner Clayton Kershaw, MVP runner-up Matt Kemp and All-Stars Chad Billingsley, Jonathan Broxton and Russell Martin.

Since 2007, Watson has run the Dodgers' Minor League system, which in 2010 was named the Organization of the Year by Topps. He is credited with establishing the Winter Prospect Development Program and has been praised for adding several former Dodgers legends to the Minor League staff.

Lovelace, a former pitcher in the Dodgers system, will be entering his 13th season since returning to the organization. He has climbed from scout to special assistant to director of player personnel to vice president of player personnel. In his current role, he is a key member of Colletti's decision-making core.

Ragazzo, in his sixth year with the Dodgers, assists Colletti with roster moves and manages the professional scouts. He previously was responsible for the organization's international scouts, who will now report to Engle.

Engle was hired earlier this month from the Seattle Mariners and brought along a half-dozen of his international scouts.

Conte will continue to manage the organization's Major League and Minor League medical departments and risk assessment.

Josh Bard, previously announced as a new special assistant for player development, joins Aaron Sele, Jose Vizcaino and Juan Castro in that role. Bill Mueller, replaced by Bard, is now a professional scout.

LOS ANGELES -- The Dodgers, having beefed up the baseball operations department with recent hires, have also promoted several department heads, general manager Ned Colletti confirmed.

Logan White, formerly assistant general manager for amateur and international scouting, is now vice president of scouting; De Jon Watson, formerly assistant general manager for player development, is now vice president of player development; Vance Lovelace, formerly director of player personnel, is now vice president of player personnel; Rick Ragazzo, formerly director of professional scouting, is now vice president of professional scouting.

These moves follow the hiring of Bob Engle as vice president of international scouting, Gerry Hunsicker as senior advisor to the general manager and Pat Corrales as a third special assistant to the general manager, joining Toney Howell and Ken Bracey.

Also, Stan Conte, who moved from head trainer to director of medical services a year ago, is now vice president of medical services.

"This rewards their work, their years of service with the Dodgers and in Major League Baseball," said Colletti. "It also allows them to refocus on their primary responsibilities. Some have had to handle multiple roles. We're now in a position to have them refocus on their primary area, be it scouting, player development, amateur scouting, international scouting or professional scouting."

White, who has conducted the amateur Draft since 2002, became assistant GM in '07, adding international duties at a time when the club de-emphasized the money spent on international players. His Draft picks have included Cy Young Award winner Clayton Kershaw, MVP runner-up Matt Kemp and All-Stars Chad Billingsley, Jonathan Broxton and Russell Martin.

Since 2007, Watson has run the Dodgers' Minor League system, which in 2010 was named the Organization of the Year by Topps. He is credited with establishing the Winter Prospect Development Program and has been praised for adding several former Dodgers legends to the Minor League staff.

Lovelace, a former pitcher in the Dodgers system, will be entering his 13th season since returning to the organization. He has climbed from scout to special assistant to director of player personnel to vice president of player personnel. In his current role, he is a key member of Colletti's decision-making core.

Ragazzo, in his sixth year with the Dodgers, assists Colletti with roster moves and manages the professional scouts. He previously was responsible for the organization's international scouts, who will now report to Engle.

Engle was hired earlier this month from the Seattle Mariners and brought along a half-dozen of his international scouts.

Conte will continue to manage the organization's Major League and Minor League medical departments and risk assessment.

Josh Bard, previously announced as a new special assistant for player development, joins Aaron Sele, Jose Vizcaino and Juan Castro in that role. Bill Mueller, replaced by Bard, is now a professional scout.